SoSock, I do not believe I EVER felt that way about DiceK. He was a disappointment from the start, and despite the fact that he did pitch a few good games along the way, I just never felt like he lived up to the hype and so was always disappointed.

Did anyone in the Red Sox brass learn anything from this for future use? Are they taking an objective look at how Dice-k approached his conditioning during his formative years in Japan, how they changed it and the results? How both of them handled the change? What the different ball sizes did to his grip and command--if anything? How about cultural adjustments? Even purported loners need a buddy or two when they're constantly with the same group of people for 7 or 8 months at a stretch. Hopefully, the Sox brain-trust is trying to figure this out. Surely even JWH can't write off a 100 million as a simple "mistake". Japan is still producing baseball talent and it would be silly to get gun-shy about going there because of a "remember Dice-k" trope. Or maybe look at Tazawa from a fresh perspective. Dice did have his moments with the Sox--there was definitely lights-out stuff at times. Like Wily Mo Pena, I wonder what happened.

Did anyone in the Red Sox brass learn anything from this for future use?

Sounds like the Sox worked hard on all that stuff the entire time he was here. But Dice was not totally receptive, so what can you do but try to find a middle ground. No way the Sox are gun-shy - any more than they would be to sign another FA after having a previous FA disaster.

"Curve balls?" Heh. That, and every fly ball hit to him looking like one, I guess.

Re: Dice, I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Have you ever seen this: http://blog.japaneseballplayers.com/2011/04/thoughts-on-an-enigma-that-is-daisuke-matsuzaka/ Although Bobby Valentine strikes me as one of those guys who always has his eye on his next job. The combo of he and a Cafardo interview is fraught with peril unless you were actually present.